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Attorneys for the state and George Zimmerman went back to court today to argue over whether the lawyer for Trayvon Martin’s parents, Benjamin Crump, should be required to give a deposition.

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The judge has ruled against the defense on the primary issue at today’s hearing.

Zimmerman was not at today’s hearing, as he was granted a waiver.

Back in October, circuit judge Debra S. Nelson ordered Crump to answer questions about an interview he recorded in March of one of the state’s most important witnesses, a young Miami woman who was on the phone with Trayvon moments before he was shot.

Crump then hired an attorney and asked the judge to reverse her decision, arguing that what he knows should be protected by attorney-client privilege. In addition, he said he has already provided all of the information ordered by the judge.

Zimmerman’s attorney Don West argued that Crump made himself a witness “by virtue of his participation” in the interview with the young woman.

“She has been cloaked in mystery since the beginning of this, her age has been misrepresented” by Crump, West argued. He said Crump claimed the girl was 16 at the time of the shooting, when actually she was 18.

Nelson, however, told the defense lawyer that he must show that Crump has relevant information, and that deposing him is necessary to get it. 

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“He is an attorney and he is representing the family that is opposition” to the defense, Nelson said, referring to Crump’s claim of privilege.

In the end, Nelson ruled that the defense failed to show Crump had relevant information that could overcome his privilege as an attorney.

This story is developing.

SOURCE: Orlando Sentinel